Argos-Shimano coach: Kittel and Degenkolb will be quicker due to new training technique

Already very successful as sprinters, the Argos Shimano team believes that there is more to come from Marcel Kittel and John Degenkolb and hopes to prove this in the upcoming Tour de France.

The Dutch squad has worked on this recently at altitude and, according to trainer Adriaan Helmantel, some clear benefits have been seen.

“It was a very good training camp,” he said, speaking about the duo’s stay of several weeks at 2300 metres in the Spanish mountains. “The training went very well and the weather has been very kind to us, in stark contrast with, so I have heard, the rest of Europe.

“There are lots of reasons to go on a training camp. You can optimise the balance between training and resting; you don’t have to worry about travelling and racing, and the focus is fully on training and improving.”

Helmantel has also been working on a new training technique at altitude and confirmed that some real benefits were seen. “Of course we won’t reveal our secret,” he said, conscious that their rivals may try to mimic that training. “But yes, a new study showed us that we can improve the sprints of Marcel and John while training at altitude. So we have done this training and to be honest, I was impressed with the results.”

He said that Kittel’s victory in Sunday’s Garmin ProRace Berlin was a sign that things were going to plan.

Both he and Degenkolb have both had successful careers thus far, with the former winning Scheldeprijs the past two years and the latter taking five stage wins in the Vuelta a España in 2012. Both are likely to be part of Argos Shimano’s Tour de France squad, and each will be aiming for victories there.

According to Helmantel, they have different attributes and will be good in different areas. “Marcel is better in the flat sprints and John excels when it is a bit tougher and slightly uphill,” he explained.

Between them, the team hopes that many bases will be covered and that they can take the fight to other fast riders such as Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma Quick Step) and Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling).

Both of those rivals extremely quick, but Helmantel is encouraged by what he saw at altitude. “It has been a very good training camp and the work paid off with Marcel taking the win,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the upcoming races.”